Motometer-locking device



Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT/OFFICE. I

EDWIN G. RENAUD, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

MOTOMETER-LOCKIN G DEVICE.

Application filed ilanuary 20, 1921. Serial No. 438,563.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. RENAUD,

a citizen of the United States,-residing at v the screw cap.

A further object of my invention is to provide adevice of the kind described which is simple in construction, cheap to make, not liable to get out of order, and

H which may be readily applied to automobile filling, tubes now in use. I

lldyinvention provides still further novel means for preventing the unscrewing, felo niously, of two tubular members of a filling tube which have threaded engagement with each other.

My invention provides still further a simple, cheap and eflicient lock adapted for use in connection with a motometer locking device.

My invention is also adapted for use. with different kinds and makes of filling tubes. The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates my invention, in the preferred em bodiment thereof,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved locking device shown applied to a radiator filling tube. k i 1 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and a plan view of the operating key. Y

Fig. 4L is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line le-e of Fig. 1, some of the parts being shown in elevation,- the key being shown inserted. p

Fig. 5 is. a view similartoFig. i, the key being removed.

Fig. 6 is a crosssection on the lined-6 of Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

1 designates the threaded filling tube of an ordinary automobile radiator of the type having internal threads and which is adapted to have removably fitted therein the usual screw cap 2.

In some makes of radiators, the filling tube 1 is too short to conveniently apply thereto my improved locking device- In such case I provide an extension to the filling tube comprising atubular member 8' threaded at its ends to fit the tube 1 and the cap 2 respectively, as shown in Fig. '2.

To hold the member 3 from being unscrewed, it has secured on itsinner side one end of a spring wire 4, the other end ;of which extends through a transverse hole 5 in the member 3 which intersects the threaded connection between the members 1 and 3. Thefree endof the wire 4 extends between and is adapted to be jammed against the threads. The wire 4 is disposed horizontally and is arranged so that it acts in the manner of a pawl, which permits the member 3 beingscrewedintothe member 1,

but which becomes jammed between the threads when it is attempted to. unscrew the member 3. In Figs. 2 and 3 the locking spring 4 is shown as it is disposed with the members 1 and 3having righthanded screw In threaded connection with each other.

this arrangement the free end of the spring 4: is in advancewhen the member-,3 is turned in a counterclockwise direction, thus causing the freeend of the spring 4 to dig in, thus becoming jammed between the threads. When the member .3 is screwedin, that is turnedclockwise, the free end of the spring 4: will slide along the threads; .The member .3 can, therefore, be screwedinto the member 1 but can not be unscrewed therefrom.

6 designates a motometer of an ordinary I type, mounted in the usual manner in the screw cap 2.

To prevent the felonious removal of the screw cap 2, to permit the theft of the one of these elements and having a bolt" whichis key operated arranged to engage a bolt engaging member carried by the other of these elements.

.In the specific form shown, a cylindrical motometer 6,1 provide novel means for re lock casing 7 is rigidly secnred in a horizontal position in the tubular member 8. In the inner end of the casing 7 is lined a cylindrical cam member 8 having one or more inclined cam surfaces 9 against which surfaces is adapted to bear the inner end of a bolt carrying member 10 which is rota table in the casing 7 and which bears against the cam surfaces 9, which, when the member 10 is rotated in one direction in the casing 7 the cam surfaces 9 force the member 10 longitudinally outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 and in solid lines in Fig. 4, which is the locking position, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, which is the unlocked position.

A central longitudinal bolt 11 has its outer end rigidly secured to the member 10 and is slidably mounted in a central hole in the cam member 8.

Rotatably mounted in the outer end of the casing '7 is a member 12 which has a peripheral groove 13 into which extends an annular internal flange 14 in the outer end of the casing 7". The member 12- is provided with a key hole 15 adapted to receive therethrough a key 16 having at'its inner end a central projection 17 and two eccentric projections 18. The projection 17 is adapted; to enter a central longitudinal hole 19 in the outer end of the bolt 11. The projections 18 are adapted to respectively enter two eccentric holes 20 provided in the outer end of the member 10.

When the key 16 is inserted through the slot 15 to the operative position, with the projections 17 and 18 in the holes adapted to receive them, and the key is turned in a counter-clockwise direction, the member 10 will be rotated against the cam surfaces 9- and the latter will force the member 10 to the unlocked position, in which position, the bolt 11 will be withdrawn from the locking position shown in solid lines in Figs. 4 and 5 out of the path of 'movement of an eccentric locking member comprising, preferably, a vertical screw 21, the upper end of which is secured rigidly in the screw cap 2.

A coil spring 22 mounted in the casing 7 has one end bearing against the member 10, the other end having a bearing against the inner side of the member 12. The spring 22 serves to normally hold the member 10 engaged with the camsurfaces 9. \Vhen the lock 1s unlocked, the key 16 may be with drawn.

To lock the screw cap 2, after a filling operation, the cap 2 is screwed in the usual manner to its closed position, this being permitted by the bolt 11 being in the unlocked position. The key 16 is then inserted through the slot 15 and into the holes 19 and 20, and then turned in a clock-wise direction, thereby permitting the spring and the pressure of the keyto move the bolt carrying member 10 and'the bolt 11 to the locking position in the path of movement of the locking screw 21. The key 16 is then withdrawn from the lock. The screw 21 will then strike the bolt 11, in the unscrewing of t'he cap 2, thus preventing the removal of the screw cap.

If desired, a longitudinal pin 23 may have its outer end secured in the member 12, so that the inner end of the pin will strike the member 10 to prevent the latter disengaging from the cam surfaces 9.

In case that the filling tube 1 of the radiator isof sufiicient length to permit of the mounting therein of the lock casing 7, the tubular extension member 3 may be omitted from the construction.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as various modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention,

What I claim is.

1. In a motometer locking device the combination with a radiator filling tube and a screw cap fitted thereto and adapted to support'a motometer, one of said elements having mounted thereon a bolt engaging member, of a lock having a casing mounted in the other of said elements, a cam member lined in said casing, a bolt carrying member sl-idably and rotatably mounted in said casing and engaging and adapted to he slid in one direction when rotated by said cam member and having means for being rotated by a key, and a bolt carried by said bolt carrying member and movable therewith to. and from a position in which it will engage said bolt engaging member so as to hold the cap from being unscrewed, substantially as set forth.

2. In a motometer locking device, the combination with a radiator filling tube and a screw cap fitted thereto and adapted to support a motometer, one of said elements having mounted thereon a bolt engaging member, of alock having a casing mounted in the other of said elements, a cam, member fixed in said casing, a bolt carrying member slidably and rotatably mounted in said casing and engaging and adapted when rotated to be slid in one direction by said cam member and having means for being rotated by a key, a spring for holding said slidable member against said cam member, and a bolt carried by the. bolt carrying member and movable therewith to and from a position in whichit will engage said bolt engaging member so as to hold the. cap from being unscrewed, substantially a set forth.

, 3, In a motometer locking device, the combination with a radiator filling tube having a screw threaded upper end, and a screw cap fitted thereto and adapted to support a motometer, of a bolt engaging member extend ing downwardly from the cap into the filling tube, a lock casing mounted in the filling tube, a cam member fixed in said casing, a bolt carrying member rotatable in said casing by a key and engaging and adapted to be slid longitudinally by said cam member when rotated, a spring for holding the bolt carrying member reliably engaged with Said cam member, said bolt engaging member being carried by and disposed eceentrically with relation to said cap, and a bolt movable by said carrying member into and out of the path of movement of said bolt engaging member, substantially as set forth.

4. A look compriing a casing, the outer end of which has an internal annular flange, two members, one of which is fixed in said casing and has an axial hole therethrough the other member being rotatable and longitndinally movable in said casing and having an axial bolt extending through and rotatable and slidable in said hole, one of the members having a cam surface, against which the other member has a bearing, the rotatable member having means for being engaged and rotated by a key, a member having a key hole adapted to receive therethrough said key, said key hole member being adapted to be rotated by said key and having a peripheral groove into which said annular flange extends, and a spring mounted in said casing and bearing at one end against said key hole member and hearing at its other end against the bolt carrying member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification.

EDWIN O. RENAUD. 

